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[60.03] Plasma Near Saturn's Rings and Electrons Near Titan

A.J. Coates (MSSL-UCL, UK), F. Crary, D.T. Young (SwRI), R.L. Tokar (LANL), H.J. McAndrews, A.M. Rymer (MSSL-UCL, UK), R.E. Johnson (U.Virginia)

We present observations of electrons and ions near to Saturn's rings and near Titan. Near the main rings, we observe photoelectrons produced on sunlit ring particles streaming through less dense regions of the rings, in particular the Cassini division and Encke gap. In addition we detect photoelectrons from the ring ionosphere. The ion composition is principally molecular oxygen. Near to Titan we observe ionospheric photoelectrons in the sunlit ionosphere, and we measure the amount by which the magnetospheric electron environment adds to the heating of Titan's upper atmosphere, providing an additional driver for chemical reactions. Here we present a summary of our observations over the rings and at Titan.

We ackowledge support from PPARC and NASA

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Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 37 #3
© 2004. The American Astronomical Soceity.